Local Hawaii ingredients used with an international flair

Sunday, April 08, 2007

There may be no more wasabi at the KCC Saturday Farmers' Market, but there is no shortage of treats. Look for fresh poha berries at Fresh From the Farm. These come from Hana Fresh and are grown chemical-free. When you buy these, you support the Hana Community Health Center.

Eat the poha berries fresh, within a couple of days of purchase. They make great gifts--each one is individually pre-wrapped in its little five-section paper container.

Another delectable treat is the smoked salmon and taro lau lau that you will find at the Taro Delights tent. This is a winning combination. Nanette re-heats these just before serving by boiling the water in the microwave steamer, then she plops the lau lau into the top, covers it, and zaps them for two minutes. The salmon is both rich and succulant and the whole dish is wonderfully aromatic. Don't miss this for a rare dinner treat, fresh and made in Hawaii.

For those of you who are reading this on the Mainland, I'm sorry, but you'll just have to plan your trip to include a Saturday visit to the market.